Hideously diverse Britain + Slavery | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/series/hideously-diverse-britain+world/slavery
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Should we tear down the statues of slavers such as Edward Colston?https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/09/edward-colston-bristol-statue-slavery
Bristol's obsequious monument to a slave trader is a sorry reminder of past mores, but perhaps the answer lies less in boycotts and more in celebration of the contribution of minorities<p>If the past really is another country, is it one of those best avoided? The question occurs following receipt of a letter from a notably upset reader, about a trip to Bristol. "Edward Colston, the Bristol-born merchant, member of parliament and slave trader, is one of the most evil men in English history, yet a statue honouring him still poisons the city centre today," wrote Mike Gardner. "What a disgrace. The city's politicians should hang their heads in shame." It's not just the statue that gets Mike's goat, but also the warm words inscribed: "Erected by the citizens of Bristol and memorial to one the most virtuous and wise sons of their city."</p><p>That was the view in 1895, when the statue was erected. But now? Gardner looked Colston up. Even of his time, the slaver was a bad 'un. "Between 1672 and 1689, Colston's company transported around 100,000 slaves from west Africa to the West Indies and America. This included women and children as young as six – each slave was branded with company's initials, RAC, on their chest. To maximise profit, Colston's ships divided their hulls into holds with little headroom, so they could transport as many slaves as possible. Unhygienic conditions, dehydration, dysentery and scurvy killed more than 20,000 slaves during the crossings, their bodies thrown overboard by the vicious sailors."</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/09/edward-colston-bristol-statue-slavery">Continue reading...</a>UK newsSocietyBristolMassive AttackSlaveryMon, 09 Jun 2014 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/09/edward-colston-bristol-statue-slaveryPhotograph: Alamy'One of the most evil men in English history' … the statue of Edward Colston. Photograph: AlamyPhotograph: Alamy'One of the most evil men in English history' … the statue of Edward Colston. Photograph: AlamyHugh Muir2014-06-09T07:00:00ZHideously diverse Britain: His ancestor was a slaver. Now he's saying sorryhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/12/hideously-diverse-britain
Six generations after Captain Ingham bought Mary Prince, Mark Nash helps pay for a plaque in her memory<p>Mark Nash's wife spotted it first. She was learning about the slave life of Mary Prince, and the triumphs that led to Prince being one of the very first black women to publish a book in England – a shocking depiction of that life – when she noticed a connection. One of the most cruel slavers was called Ingham. Weren't your slaver ancestors called Ingham, she asked her husband? Some would have laughed it&nbsp;off, or brushed it off. He couldn't. "I&nbsp;didn't know how to contemplate that someone in my family history could beat someone to death with impunity, as described in Mary's book," he tells me. "I felt guilt and shame. Took a while to accept."</p><p>It was a long time ago. Mary was brought to London by a different slaver in 1828. And Mark is far away. The re-insurance expert lives in Bermuda, Mary's birthplace, where he is also an anti-racist campaigner. So why are we talking about Mary? Well, last month, campaigners restored to University of London a plaque in her memory.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/12/hideously-diverse-britain">Continue reading...</a>SlaveryWorld newsBermudaAmericasTue, 12 Jul 2011 20:30:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/12/hideously-diverse-britainHugh Muir2011-07-12T20:30:01Z